Haslibergerin - exploring the UK

Aspirations - enabling to dream

2008-08-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

I am now back to my studies from a wonderful weekend - thanks Maja, Caro and Mike!

My dissertation is keeping me busy but at the same time I had the chance to explore a new issue I am interested in: enabling the capacity to aspire.

Throughout my time in AIESEC, I was always passionate about supporting people to achieve their potential. Now, through meeting people from many different backgrounds in England and reading about 'the poor' for my dissertation, I thought more and more about the following:

Could it be that in order for people to fulfill their potential, they need to be able to dream?

If someone doesn't have dreams, hopes or ambitions, is it likely that they will fulfill their potential?

What are the conditions under which people 'dream best'? Basic needs satisfaction? Networks? Knowledge of options (education) ?

When I was a primary school student I thought a classmate of mine was stupid, she did not want to learn, did not seem to want anything with her life as it seemed to me at the age of 8. Only later I found out she had been abused at home, came from a deprived family and faced many difficulties.

Appadurai's article (the capacity to aspire) made me think: he says that the capacity to aspire is not evenly distributed in our world. I know now that the girl in primary school was no bit stupider than me, maybe more intelligent. I am asking myself: what needs to happen for everyone having equal capacities to aspire?

Tomorrow I have a meeting with Tom, a very inspiring person who is also interested in the subject - let's see what I learn from him!

Visit to Switzerland

2008-04-14T13:05:00.001-07:00

Around Easter, I had a wonderful visit to Switzerland. It was my birthday, so my sister and my mum invited friends and family to celebrate with me - I had a fantastic time, cooking for everyone, chatting and catching up. My sister was even so cute to try to organise a surprise party for me (which didn't work out because too many friends were abroad over Easter) - I really felt overwhelmed to be spend such a nice time with my family. Who also contributed to this was Ginny, a friend from Manchester visîting me in Switzerland. At first I was really stressed because I had to study but also wanted to take care of her at the same time, but she was really sweet and we had a great time together - because of her being there me and my family did some really touristy stuff like visiting Lucerne or Planplatten. Of course I also spent time with my donkeys who are some of my greatest loves in life :-) I also met good friends like Corinne, Nadja, Suzan and Maja - it felt like there was no time gap from when I saw them last time. Now I am back in Manchester again, studying intensively and developing myself, but enjoying to think back of those beautiful memories!

Yes, I am still here

2008-02-28T16:06:00.001-08:00

After half a year of silence, it is time to write an update on this blog!

I am still in england, experiencing a country which is much more exotic to me than Nepal, Brazil or Singapore:
- Strange English breakfast (no, Dean did NOT manage to turn me to a baked-beans-on-toast-lover)
- the British obsession with the class system (a usual conversation: "Well, me as a typical middle class person think this and that")
- the enormous diversity in the society makes the heart of an anthropologist beat higher - within walking distance in Manchester I can go to the Pakistani/Indian Curry mile, Chinatown or the traditional British Pub!

I am enjoying my course a lot - it is very challenging and demanding, I am meeting really interesting scholars and feel like my mind grows a lot. But there is also the fighting with texts, forcing myself to read 8h a day and having a less action oriented life than when I worked for AIESEC.
I am spending a lot of time with Dean and nurturing ties with Swiss friends and family that will hopefully endure over distance and time.
My course will end in September, and the options at the moment are: Go for an internship, or find a really great job in Britain.

My new hobby - dancing!

2007-10-24T14:53:00.001-07:00

One good thing is about a British university are the endless opportunities in terms of student life. With a campus of 90'000 students, Manchester offers a society for everyone: the clubbing society, AIESEC, the Malaysian society, the knitting society and many more.

I joined the dance society, and I am enjoying it enormously. I am taking a Salsa Class and a ballroom dance class. After the classes, you can go for 1.5 h practice, where they just play the music and let you dance. Students of all levels participate in the practice, and that gives you the opportunity to see some real tournament dancers - a fantastic sight! I always come back energetic and happy from the classes. The atmosphere is totally relaxed, and you always find a partner (very often a girl, as most guys have been dragged there by their girldfriends and are already "taken").

So far I learnt: Salsa, Tango, Quickstep, Valse, Chachacha and Rumba. I am - mildlly said - only an average talent, but because of the frequency of the practice, I feel like I have made already big steps! The good thing though is that there is no competition or stress: One of the best thing of the dance classes is how much you laughbecause you stumble around.

Yes, dancing is one of the things in life that just make me happy :-)

Studying and thinking

2007-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, life in the UK got normal for me - baked beans, student flat, dance classes and of course: studying.

It is my experience as a student that stimulates me most. Due to the chosen courses, I read a lot about about topics that are simply sad: An example are the structural constraints to children in the crack shanty towns of New York. According to Philippe Bourgeois, most of them turn into drug dealers/rape victims/violent individuals/adoscelent paternts despite them having "normal childhood dreams like becoming a doctor or a policeman. Although I believe in the power of the individual to shape her own life, the conditions make this very hard for the adolescents mentioned above.
This is only one of the shocking topics I am currently reading about. I have gained leadership characteristics through being in AIESEC, have grown up in priviledged conditions in the best country in the world, have a university education, a good social environment and much more.

I really really hope that I can turn all of these great starting conditions into action, that I find a career where I can put myself fully in and make a difference!

When I left AIESEC, I believed becoming a Social Entrepreneur might be the right choice (as business is one of the most powerful agents), but maybe I should consider working for a government? Or still for an NGO? And what is the field I can bring in most of my competencies?

Manchester: A new place - and new options arising!

Arrived in the UK!

2007-09-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, now it finally happened: I arrived to spend a year in the UK as a Masters student of Social Anthropology in Manchester!

After a wonderful month with family, friends, donkeys and mountains in Switzerland, I boarded a plane together with Dean to London. In my first few days in Manchester I got a phone number (email me and I will tell you :-) and I got to know my accomodation and the university.

My accomodation is very small and ugly - the bed wouldn't fit in twice, the build is from around the 1960s and there are many 19 year olds who left home for the first time and party like crazy, so I woke up last night to a firework in front of my window! I pay around 670 Swiss francs.

Besides the accomodation, the impression I got from the university so far is great: They take really good care of us internationals, and everything seems well organized and striving for excellence.

It looks as though the masters will be more challenging than I thought: I was in an information session today, and they told us we'd be working around 35 hours a week if we didn't take any holidays all year round! Now, let's see if this is just the usual university scarer at the beginning or if it is actually true. I like to be challenged at university (one reason for choosing the UK and Manchester) and it seems this university will challenge me.

Everyday feels like an adventure, because you don't know who you are going to meet and what you are going to learn. For example, today I found out that my course lasts till September, and not just till June, I meet a really nice Canadian woman and I am going to a Barbecue organised by the international society. Overall, I like it here and I am happy to go through something which looks like a unique learning experience, meeting lots of English and international people and exploring a new (more academic) side of myself!

First steps of reintegration! Or: About being Swiss.

2007-07-18T01:09:00.000-07:00

This week I took my first steps of reintegration!
Nadja, a good Swiss friend of mine came to visit me inDenmark and we had loads of fun eating chocolate, shopping and having deep and meaningful discussions.
She helped me to realise that I actually really changed my behaviours during my stay in Denmark. For example I am speaking in a much more imperative tone, such as: "try that dress on now, and let´s go to a caffee afterwards". For a Dane or for my Indian flatmate a total normal tone, but Nadjas face told me that it wasn´t polite at all in a Swiss context! A "maybe you can try on that dress now? It could be great to go and get a coffee afterwards, what do you think?" would be much more appropriate in Switzerland. Funny cultural encounters!
Thanks to Nadja for helping me realising these things before going back to Switzerland for a few weeks. I wonder what my time England will "do to me". Will I still be Swiss? Will I loose my Swissness? Will I become a "European"?
I am looking forward to the adventures to come!

First Goodbyes...

2007-06-29T09:38:00.001-07:00

Today was the day of the first goodbyes... - to Pernille, the LCP of SDU and VPSR elect. As she is travelling back to Odense and she won´t come back to Copenhagen within July, she was my first official goodbye. She definitely is a person that inspired me and that I enjoyed working with and being with tremendously.
It reminded me that my term in Denmark is soon coming to an end, which made me a little sad as this was definitely a unique, beautiful, hard, enjoyable experiences I am grateful for.

Pernille, thanks for the good cooperation and making my time in Denmark special! And as my friend Giovanni would say: "It is not a goodbye, it is a see you later!"

I hope you live up to your promise and visit me in Switzerland or Manchester :-) - my doors will be open for you!

Manchester here I come!

2007-05-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, I made it!

Yesterday I received a confirmation that I am offered a place in a Master of Social Anthropology at Manchester University!

In September 07, my British adventure will start!

Special highlights: An internationally renowed university, a very modern approach to Anthropology, studying at a British university where students get marks and can get a Mentor - I am especially looking forward to live in the same country as Dean for the first time since two years :-)

Manchester, here I come!

Home soon!

2007-05-09T01:35:00.000-07:00

Just a short note:

I am coming home on the 12th of May and will stay in Switzerland till the 20th of May to catch up with old friends and family!

Drop me a mail if you are around and want to meet up - I hope to catch up with as many old friends as possible!

Fredensborg

2007-05-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

I will find out how to upload pictures on flickr and link them to my blog.

But not just yet :-)

Well, I just came back from a beautiful Sunday in Fredensborg. Want to meet the newly born princess and her parents? Then that´s the place to go: http://www.fredensborg.dk : Romantic little town with castle, full of spring, green, and most importantly home of Vibeke, Viggo, Mads and Niels: The family of Mads, who stayed for one year at my family´s in Switzerland as a hoststudent.

I had an awesome Sunday including going to Viggos choir concert, nice chats about this and that and a real "Danish family afternoon".

Tak for sidst and thanks for your hospitality Harsløf family!!!

LC visit in Aarhus

2007-04-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

Here I am again, in LC UNI, Aarhus on a LC visit.

I really love LC visits, they are the best part of my job. I find it so inspiring to see an LC develop and to support them to develop their organisation.
Last time the LC visit in UNI was the strongest experience in the my MC experience till then - what will it be like this time? One week ago, the LC presented a BCP about "from dying LC to surviving LC". Let´s see how we can make this sustainability happen!

So far I have already seen the new members in action in a killerday, some interesting one2one talks with experienced and new LC members, a chat about university relations with Tom and looking at the exchange forms together with Ali.

The second LC visit day has just started - looking forward to the things coming, the chats, the strategies and the fun!

Happiness all over the place

2007-03-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am very happy, because today I got one step nearer to my application to Manchester: I received the confirmation that my second professor is gonna write me a recommendation letter! :-) Supercool! That means I will have 2 recommendation letters, both from the directors of our institute :-)
Keep your fingers crossed that it continues like that

Plus, my team organised a very cute surprise dinner for me (birthday) on Wednesday night. I was very touched when I realised that they have worked so hard to organise this behind my back, make the most delicious sushi ever! This is a memory I will cherish forever for sure

Plus, Dean is here - no more words needed ;-)

New project!

2007-03-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

Since a few weeks I have a new project for my personal life. It is called: Applying for a Master of Social Anthropology at Manchester University in the UK!

I really like the study system in the UK (focused and competitive), want to improve my English skills and want to study at a university focusing on Globalization, Anthropology of Work etc.
And guess what - Manchester has the additional advantage of being 1.5 h away by train from my most beloved Dean! :-)

I am currently collecting recommendation letters, documents and all that is needed. I do not have any marks from my SA studies in Bern, but hopefully some good recommendation letters can help me with that!

I really really hope I get the admission, it would be so supercool, awesome and exciting! Therefore - please keep your fingers crossed!

What makes people to bad people?

2007-03-10T03:16:00.000-08:00

Lately I saw two movies that where suggesting ways how people are made into bad people, and both stories were situated in Africa.

One is "The last king of Scotland", where an ignorant and "innocent" doctor suddenly becomes a wrongdoer, simply because he did not (want?) to realize that his boss killed everyone who was stating a critique.

The other movie is called "Blood diamond", where it is suggested that one of the main characters, the diamond trader Danny Archer acts immoral because he has seen his parents being killed and because he has no hope for Africa.

Both movies made me think:
- What needs to happen to make sure power does not destroy? Is it law and order? If yes, what needs to happen that law and order is in power and not some despotic leader?
- Of the hundred and thousand things that need to happen to get a country from a state of civil war to a state of "thriving", what is the priority?
- It´s now nine months ago that I am not studying Social Anthropology anymore, and it seems I started to forget what horrbile things are going on in the world. I want to find out how I can make sure to remember even 5 years after my graduation.

And lastly;
- If I really want to see a change happen in the world, and I am most shocked by wars and despotic regime: Is it hypocritical to strive for making a change somewhere else?

Thanks to Hollywood for triggering my thoughts! :-)

Updates

2007-02-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

As I haven't written for some time, I share the milestones in my life for the past 2 months:

LC visit AIESEC UNI, Aarhus
The two days I've spent in Aarhus with AIESEC in UNI were probably the two most challenging and most beautiful days of my MC experience so far.
It was very challenging, because I had to completely work around my stereotypes and prejudices and create something good in a demotivated and negative atmosphere. Two days filled with one2one talks, late night discussions and an amazing EB and LC meeting left me being very impressed with the EB and LC members of AIESEC UNI.
The night when I left was probably the happiest in my "MC-life" so far: I felt that I had done something really good. I felt I initiated positive change - something which I definitely want to do again in the future.
But the most important thing I learnt: AIESEC UNI ROCKS!!! :-D

Christmas in Switzerland
I spent Christmas with Dean in Switzerland - it was simply wonderful. I think it was my happiest Christmas ever!! Having my family, Dean, my donkeys together in one place - so many people I love - was wonderful.
After that I went with Dean for New Years to England, where I got introduced to English things such as Minced Pies, Loooong English Breakfasts and taking professional photoshoots!
That was by the way my favourite Christmas present: Dean gave me and his siblings a professional photo shoot in Leeds: We all went and had our photo taken at the photographer. In the beginning I was a bit shy, but I ended up laughing a lot that day!!! Also, now Dean and me have some really cute pictures of us!

Decision making time
In January, I had a difficult decision to take: Should I or should I not run for MCP AIESEC Denmark? As you might know, I ended up not running due to a more than "precarious" university situation. (I need to finish my uni by 2010, otherwise they "don't know what will happen to my degree".)
It wasn't easy for me, but I know now better what I want in the future.

Mentor
Just 3 days ago, I got myself a mentor! It is a person that is a bit older than me and has a strong background in both Social Anthropology and Business, so exactly what I am looking for. I am very much looking forward to see how this mentorship relationship progresses.

So, for all of you who were waiting for an update: All in all, I am well and feeling happy :-)

Coming home!

2006-11-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

Home - soon again: Swiss bread, chocolate, (hopefully) getting spoilt by my mother, meet my family, my donkeys and my old friends again. I am so looking forward to that!

And the best thing: Dean is coming too :-)

I am arriving in Switzerland on the 21st of December, leaving on the 29th to England. I am already meeting Maja at Zurich airport - juhuiii! I am sure we will have a lot to talk about. If anyone by chance comes to Hasliberg - I would be happy to see you. (That is, if you are one of my old friends or collegues :-)

What is Excellence?

2006-11-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

After Dean supported me so nicely in moving my blog to nomadlife, and hijacked my blog with the password I gave him, I realised it´s time to post something myself.

In the last weeks I have realised that the thing that really motivates me is excellence: I get motivated when I perform excellently, when I see a project or an action has the potential to be excellent.
Linked to that, I am thinking about the essential question: "What is excellence?"

To use the example of a milkpan:
Is excellence if everyone benefiting from the milkpan is satisfied? Is excellence if your individual goals (creating a milkpan fulfilling some standards) have been achieved? Or is it something else? Is excellence something that fulfills its purpose in the best possible way?? (A milkpan that boils milk in a very good way).

Can something still be excellent when we get critized for it? Is something only excellent when it exceeds expectations? Is something excellent always without mistakes?

In my head are many answers for these questions, but none is final.

If you have any thoughts to share, they are very welcome.

Dean Takes Over

2006-11-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Dean has taken over the blog, just like the rest of Verena's life!!!

So what shall I write here? Maybe that I like Verena a lot and that she is my favourite person, friend and buddy.

OK, thats the sweet part now to the real thing. Enjoy blogging and Denmark!

Love you lots,
Dean.

5 weeks in Copenhagen

2006-07-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

It's five weeks ago since I arrived in Copenhagen. I met some very nice people, bought a bike, and had the first "monday mornings" in the MC office. I like my jobdescription, and am sure I will learn a lot here.

Some of my key experiences in Denmark so far:

- Biking: When I drive to work in the morning, it is not unusual that up to 30 people are waiting in front of the redlights. It seems that everyone bikes here! I am sure, after one year of this I will have "Wadli" like a Footballer!

- "hygge": A Danish word for cosy. Every Dane tough tells me that it means much more than cosy, it is a concept that goes much farer than the German "gemütlich" as well. A party is "hygge" when it is the right athmosphere, relaxed, good conversations and some candles. (Did I get that right?). Last Wednesday Me and Kreta, my flat - and MC-mate recieved a compliment that our housewarming party was "hygge". What would be a bit strange in Switzerland (a party has to be cool, awesome and crazy) is here a wonderful compliment.

- Hugging: Here everyone hugs for saying hello: Everyone who thinks that Scandinavians are cold - here's the proof for the opposite. Although: Maybe it's only the AIESECers who hug, I am on my way to find out...

- flat hierarchy: We call even externals by their given name, and on our partners luncheon, no one was dressed up in a suit or anything. The VPER even wore a denim skirt!

So far about my observations of Denmark.

My first post

2006-07-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up and wanted to have a blog. I think it is a wonderful way to capture experiences and stay in touch with friends abroad. Most importantly it will be a place for me to write down what I saw, thought and did.
I am looking forward to an exciting tryout of my new life as a blogger - let's see how it goes!